CM Vijayan explains Shailaja's exclusion from new Kerala cabinet

NEW DELHI: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday revealed the reason behind former health minister K K Shailaja's surprise exclusion from his new cabinet.
Speaking to reporters, Vijayan - who took oath for a second consecutive term - said that Shailaja's omission from the new LDF cabinet is in line with the ruling CPM's position on giving chance to new faces.

Responding to a series of questions on Shailaja's exclusion, Vijayan said he respects the opinion from various sections of society but stated that the party's policy was that new people should come.
He hailed the performance of his colleagues in the outgoing ministry but said the party's decision was "not to grant any special exemption to anyone".
"Many of the previous ministers did exemplary job in their portfolios. The party decided not to grant any sort of exemption to anyone. The party's position is to bring in new people," he said.
The exclusion of Shailaja has set off a massive debate in the southern state, with many questioning the reasons behind dropping a minister who was praised for her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vijayan has insisted that the state's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic was a collective effort.
High profile ministers in the outgoing ministry, T M Thomas Isaac and G Sudhakaran, were among those who were denied tickets in the assembly polls on the basis of the criteria set by the party.
Asked about the social media outcry on why exemption was given to the chief minister, the CPM veteran said he was continuing in the post because of the party's decision.
The second Vijayan government will have a 21-member-strong cabinet with a handful of first-time legislators and three women members, the highest in recent time.
Barring Vijayan, K Krishnankutty of JD(S) and A K Saseendran of NCP, the water resources and transport ministers respectively in the previous LDF government, are the only old faces in the new ministry.
(With inputs from PTI)